Group, agencies to sign MOA for torture cases probe

MANILA, Philippines - A non-government organization will sign an agreement with government agencies on Thursday for the training of investigators and prosecutors to strengthen the probe and prosecution of torture cases in the country.

The Medical Action Group representatives will ink a memorandum of agreement with officials of the British Embassy Manila, Department of Justice, and Philippine National Police this morning at the DOJ main office in Manila.

MAG said the training aims to enhance the capacity of the investigators in gathering and handling of pieces of evidence and to provide necessary knowledge and skills for the prosecutors to properly evaluate pieces of physical and meical evidence in court proceedings on alleged torture cases.

The training also aims to meet the international standards contained in the UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“the Istanbul Protocol”), the group added.

"This is in view of the lack of documentation standards for torture cases has often resulted in the rejection of physical and medical evidences by the courts. This training will have a direct impact on the ability to investigate and secure prosecution by improving the quality of evidences in torture cases," MAG said.

The training will be undertaken with funding from the British Embassy’s Human Rights and Democracy Programme and the signing of the MOA will be witnessed by the Commission on Human Rights.